Messages - Tinkle45

my instructor tells us that whenever we read an argument, we should ask whether or not the argument is good.

While it may be a fun exercise, I have to disagree with your instructor. The test writers almost always let you know if an argument is good or bad ahead of time. Flaw, Strengthen, Weaken, Parallel Flaw, Necessary Assumption, and Sufficient Assumption are always bad. Inference and Resolve/Explain questions don't have a conclusion to be bad. Reasoning, Roleplay, and Point at Issue questions don't really matter (well, it may be helpful occasionally for Reasoning Q's). The only place I can think of it being helpful most of the time would be in parallel questions.

I feel like i am more of an active reader when i read with that purpose; in addition when you don't read questions beforehand it seems like a good strategy.

I think it's best to approach most LR Q's in this way, and ask yourself how well the Conclusion follows from the premises.

That's not the same as determining whether the argument is good or bad, which, more often than not, is something you can determine before even reading the argument.

I think you (and the OP) may be misunderstanding what the instructor is asking. I think he's simply telling people to read the argument critically, and ask themselves how well the conclusions follows from the premises. (And if there are any holes in the argument, and if so, where.)

However, I could of course be wrong.

i do understand what he is asking actually. I just asked whether or not the argument was valid

my instructor tells us that whenever we read an argument, we should ask whether or not the argument is good.Anyways, so i am doing Role/Function questions (which are fabulous!!!!). So my question is: is this argument good or bad?

A severe blow to the head can cause one to lose consciousness; from this some people infer that consciousness is a product of the brain and cannot survive bodily death. But a radio that becomes damaged may suddenly cease to broadcast the program it had been receiving, and we do not conclude from this that the program itself has ceased to exist. Similarly, more substantial evidence would be needed to conclude that consciousness does not survive bodily death.

ok. i think it is a good argument because the conclusion seems safe even though evidence are not too relevant. I need your opinion.Thank you!!

Also, make sure you are checking your answers after each question you do. The goal early on is to identify your errors right away, reward good thinking with a mental pat on the back, and sort out the kinks in your logic. If you only score yourself ever 10 questions or so, you won't be catching the exact flaws in your reasoning right away and you could end up shoring up a few bad habits.

If you're worried about seeing the answer to the next question when you check back, just use a post-it to cover them.